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Black-bellied Sandgrouse
(Pterocles orientalis)
 German name(s): "Sandflughuhn"
Size: 30-39 cm
Weight: 300-615 g
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Black-bellied Sandgrouses are roughly chicken-sized birds.
Their plumage
is dimorphic, i.e.,
males and
females
are different.
Both sexes have a broad, cream-coloured breast band and a
black belly.
The tail and rump are finely vermiculated creamy and dark-grey.
In females
the entire upperparts are equally finely vermiculated, except
for the hindneck which, together with the upper chest, is
spotted dark-grey on creamy background. The head is finely
streaked grey, with some orange around the throat.
Males
have boldly spotted upperwings with rufous and dark-grey colours.
The primary flight feathers, which are hidden in the folded
wings, are dark-grey.
Males have a dark head and neck, with orange around the throat
with a dark central streak.
The irises of both sexes are dark; the short, conical bill is
grey; legs and feet are also grey.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Black-bellied
Sandgrouse at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Black-bellied Sandgrouse is available
HERE
.
There are two extant races of Black-bellied Sandgrouse.
Together, their range extends from the Iberian peninsula and the Atlas
mountain range in the West, via the Levant and Asia Minor, to Kazakhstan,
Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western India in the East.
While most Black-bellied Sandgrouse are sedentary, birds that breed in
central Asia (Kazakhstan) will migrate southward to the border region
of Pakistan and India.
The only places in Europe where Black-bellied Sandgrouse are found
is the Iberian peninsula. The resident race is the nominate race,
"orientalis".
Black-bellied Sandgrouses are adapted to life in poorly vegetated
level plains, from where they can fly long distances to access
water. As opposed to other species of sandgrouse, they do not
stay in areas that are entirely devoid of vegetation.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "orientalis"
Black-bellied Sandgrouse, nominate race
"orientalis",
were found by J. Pires at
Vale Goncalinho, Castro Verde, Beja, Portugal, in October 2022.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.
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Photos |
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Race "orientalis"
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ADULT |
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Near-dorsal view of Black-bellied Sandgrouse in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vale Goncalinho, Castro Verde, Beja, Portugal, October 2022]
Near-dorsal view of Black-bellied Sandgrouse in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vale Goncalinho, Castro Verde, Beja, Portugal, October 2022]
Near-dorsal view of Black-bellied Sandgrouse in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vale Goncalinho, Castro Verde, Beja, Portugal, October 2022]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
